What is a half-cousin? A half-first cousin? You've come to the right place to find all types of half-cousins explained, as well as a half-cousin chart.

What is the Ireland and Scotland DNA ethnicity on Ancestry? You've come to the right place to learn more about this fascinating DNA region.

Did you get the Norway DNA ethnicity in your Ancestry DNA results?  If you did, you are likely among the more than five million people living in North America that are part of the Norwegian diaspora.  Whether or not you were expecting to find Norway in your DNA results, or it came as a surprise, …

One of the first things that we do when we are researching a DNA match is check the matches that we share in common.  This strategy can help us figure out if our match is on our maternal or paternal lines.  But what does it mean when a DNA match doesn't appear to be related …

Are you interested in learning how to use your DNA to find out the identity of your biological grandparents?  No matter how old you are, or whether or not you believe your grandparents to be living, it's possible to use your DNA results to determine who they were.  If you are interested in family tree …

I'm really excited because today I just got the 23 and Me kits in the mail that I ordered for my parents.  This is a really big deal for me because I have been wanted them to do tests for a really long time, and we are finally doing it!  Both of my parents have …

Have you ever wondered what the Family Tree DNA Chromosome Browser is and how it can help you?  In this post, I will explain how to use this very cool tool, and what type of helpful information you can learn, and how it can be useful for your family tree research.  FTDNA has recently released …

Ethnicity estimates are easy to print out, summarize, and share - what's not to love about them?  We know they are popular and sought after, but what can we learn from our ethnicity estimates? One of the most popular aspects of DNA testing is the ethnicity estimate, which is also referred to as "ancestry composition" …

Have you just started experimenting with the Gedmatch X One-to-One tool?  The results can sometimes be confusing!  What does it mean to share X DNA with someone, and what does it mean when you don't?  In this post, I'll help you understand your Gedmatch X One-to-One Results so you can add a full understanding of …

Are you curious about the X chromosome?  Maybe you are wondering if learning about your X DNA matches could help you learn more about your family history or how some of your DNA matches might be related to you.  In this post, I'll discuss some common questions related to the X chromosome and genealogy, including: …

If you've been into genealogy for a while, you've probably heard someone say that they have traced their ancestry back to William the Conqueror (d. 1087), Julius Caesar (d. 44 BC), or even Adam and Eve.  While most of us will be skeptical, it can lead us to wonder how far back you can really …

You've heard all of the experts say that the best way to build a family tree is by using your DNA matches, but how, exactly, is it done?  In this post, I'll explain exactly how your DNA matches can help you build your family tree. While ethnicity estimates are fun and can occasionally reveal something …

If you are considering giving a DNA test as a gift for a holiday, birthday, or other special occasion, but are wondering if it is a good idea, you aren't alone.  In this post, I'll discuss some of the pros and cons of giving a DNA test as a gift, as well as give you …

What better what to feel a connection with your ancestors than through a beautiful homage to their culture in the form of food?  Plus, it's a great way to help family members, especially kids, become interested in their family tree and their heritage. If we are being honest, family tree research can be dry and …

Got a DNA match that shows up in the first cousin category? Are you wondering how to figure out if this match is a first cousin or a half-sibling? Read me!

If you have been examining your DNA match list, you might have noticed that there are a few different details related to the amount of shared DNA that you have with any particular match.  What is the difference between total centimorgans and the number of DNA segments that you and your match share?  Which bit …

Do you want to know how to get started with DNA testing?  In this article, learn how to choose the best DNA test for you and get the most information from your experience. If you have been thinking about taking a DNA test for a while, and have read about the different companies and even …

Are you brand-new to the idea of DNA testing?  Do you have questions about which test to take and what to expect from your test results?  In this post, I'll answer some of the most common questions about DNA testing for ancestry. Which DNA test should I take While there are a few different types …

If you are interested in DNA testing, and you are a female with male siblings, or a male with female siblings, you might be wondering which one of you should be the one to take a DNA test.  Does it make any difference?  Will your results be the same?  If you are full siblings, don't …

In this post, I'll explain to you what a quick and dirty family tree is, and how to use the tree to figure out how your DNA matches are related to you. Have you heard someone mention a "quick and dirty" family tree?  Are you wondering how building a quick and dirty family tree can …

Have you used the X DNA Comparison tool on Gedmatch? If so, you've probably seen a message saying, "No shared X DNA segments found".

There is so much written out there about how many times family stories aren't true.  Especially with the advent of DNA testing, it's easier than ever to prove or disprove long-held family beliefs.  I had an interesting experience recently, however, that I would like to share.  There is value to talking with older relatives and …

Do you have two relatives who are DNA matches to you, but not to each other?  Are you wondering what this really means, and whether or not it could mean a mistake? 

Have you heard of Gedmatch?  If you have, you might wonder why you should upload your DNA to the site to use the available tools.  In other words, why should you use Gedmatch?  In this post, I will outline the top ten reasons that people use Gedmatch.  I enjoy using the site, and I feel …

As you might know, Ancestry periodically updates their customers ethnicity estimates.  Every single Ancestry DNA customer can log in to their account and see a completely updated estimate based on the latest technology and scientific developments.  I often hear from my readers that these newly updated ethnicity estimates are confusing.  So, if you are confused …

Are you interested in learning which DNA company is the best for detecting Native American ancestry?  With all of the DNA news of late, it's no wonder that this has become a popular topic.  In this post, I'll tell you which two companies offer the best test for finding Native American roots - and I'll …

Have you heard the news?  Elizabeth Warren had her DNA examined by an expert, and guess what?  Senator Warren does, in fact, have Native American DNA.  It has been, and likely will continue to be, a contentious subject among both her followers and supporters.  In this post, I'll explain her results and talk about how …

If you have been using Gedmatch for a while, there is a good chance that you have seen the "People Who Match One-or-Both of Two Kits" tool.  At first glance, the results of this tool can be confusing, and in this post, I'll explain how to use the tool and how to understand the results. …

Do you want to learn how to upload your DNA file to Living DNA?  By uploading to Living DNA, you can get more DNA matches.  In this post, I'll show you how to upload your DNA to the site so that way you can get access to all of the information Living DNA has to …

If you have uploaded your DNA to Gedmatch, you might feel overwhelmed and confused with all of the different tools available.  Here, find beginner tips for getting started on Gedmatch. You will learn the best way to use Gedmatch, even if you are brand-new to the site. It is an amazing website, and you will …

If you already did your DNA with Ancestry, you have probably already explored through the basics of your DNA results.  You've seen your ethnicity estimate and your DNA matches, but do you want to use Ancestry DNA like an expert?  In this post, I'll explain the top tips to learn as much as possible from …

Did you find the Baltic State ethnicity region in your Ancestry DNA results?  Were you surprised, or were you expecting it?  In this post, I'll discuss the location of this ethnicity region, how you might have inherited this particular ethnicity region, and how to get started tracing your Baltic States ancestors. From a personal standpoint, …

Do you need to figure out how you are related to a DNA match? In this post, you'll find a checklist with the best ways to find the information that you need to figure out how you might be related. It can be confusing when you have a genetic relative on your DNA match list …

If you want to really get the most from the DNA test that you took, read through this list of the most common mistakes people make with their DNA results.

Did you get the Eastern Europe and Russia DNA ethnicity in your ethnicity results?  If you did, you are among almost 20 million Americans who can trace their ancestry back to Eastern Europe or Russia.  The Eastern Europe and Russia DNA region is a fascinating region made up of more than twenty countries and spanning …

Have you been examining your Ancestry DNA results since they went through the major 2018 update?  You are not alone!  Many people find themselves confused, frustrated, excited, or even sad and angry about the major changes their results have undergone.  To some people, their ethnicity estimate is confirmation of their identity - especially when it …

Have you checked your Ancestry DNA results lately?  If you have, you might have noticed that they have gone through a very big change.  In this post, I will help you learn how to explore your newly updated Ancestry DNA results. The 2018 Ancestry DNA update offers us a more nuanced insight into our ancestry, …

Did your Iberian Peninsula DNA region completely disappear from your ethnicity estimate after the Ancestry DNA September 2018 update?  If this happened to you, you are not alone.  In this post, I'll explain a little bit about why Iberian Peninsula might have been removed from your list, and what it may have been replaced with. …

The moment that we have all been waiting for has finally arrived!  Ancestry DNA has officially rolled out the biggest update to its ethnicity estimates since the company began offering DNA testing.  In this post, I'll share details about the update as well as discuss how the latest Ancestry DNA update can help us learn …

Do you have Filipino ancestry?  Are you thinking about taking a DNA test like the one offered by Ancestry DNA?  If so, you might be wondering how Filipino would show up on a DNA test. In this post, I'll explain what someone born in the Philippines or someone with Filipino roots could expect to see …

When you are doing genetic genealogy, the common advice is to ignore small segments because they are almost always identical-by-state (IBS), or false positives.  The key phrase is "almost always", and in this post, we'll explore segments smaller than 10 centimorgans (cMs). You will learn: The reason that it's important to understand small segments is …

Do you want to know how much DNA second cousins should share?  What about half-second cousins?  In this post, I'll tell you everything you need to know about shared DNA between second cousins, including whether it is possible for second cousins to share no DNA. If you have second cousins on your DNA match list, …